Today's AFL-CIO press clips
POLITICS
Doge shutters federal workplace mediator agency after Trump order
The Guardian
By Michael Sainato
March 26, 2025
Doge shutters federal workplace mediator agency after Trump order Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, independent labor peacemaker, makes up just 0.0014% of US budget The Elon Musk-run “department of government efficiency” (Doge) in effect shuttered a 79-year-old federal agency that mediates labor disputes on Wednesday – saving an estimated 0.0014% of the federal budget. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), an independent federal agency that works to prevent and resolve work stoppages and disputes in the public and private sector, has shut down most of its services and placed employees on administrative leave with firings to follow.
Another agency nearly eliminates staff as Trump continues down warpath against small federal offices
Government Executive
By Eric Katz
March 26, 2025
Afederal office that helps resolve labor disputes—including those in the federal sector—on Wednesday became the latest independent agency the Trump administration has moved to shutter in recent days following the president’s order that they close. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service notified most of its staff they were being placed on administrative leave with the expectation they would soon be subject to reductions in force, or layoffs. The agency had around 200 employees before the Trump administration, but had already lost a significant portion of its workforce due to the deferred resignation program and other attrition. It will maintain just 15 employees going forward—a few core staff and mediators in its Washington headquarters—according to an employee briefed on the plans.
Trump takes bid to slash teacher training funds to US Supreme Court
Reuters
By Andrew Chung
March 26, 2025
President Donald Trump's administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to allow it to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for teacher training as part of his sweeping crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives - a policy challenged by eight Democratic-led states. The Justice Department filed a request asking the court to lift Boston-based U.S. District Judge Myong Joun's March 10 order requiring the Department of Education to restore grants awarded in those states through two federal programs to train educators and develop their skills.
Education Department restores IDR student loan applications
The Hill
By Lexi Lonas Cochran
March 26, 2025
“The AFT has fought tirelessly to make college more affordable by limiting student debt for public service workers and countless others — progress that’s now in jeopardy because of this illegal and immoral decision to deny borrowers their rights under the law,” AFT President Randi Weingarten said at the time.
Education Department reopens suspended student loan repayment applications
The Washington Post
By Danielle Douglas-Gabriel
March 26, 2025
The Education Department on Wednesday reopened applications for some of its most affordable student loan repayment plans but offered no timeline for processing them, a move that could create a massive backlog. The department had shut down an application for all income-driven repayment plans in February after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit expanded an injunction blocking President Joe Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education program, commonly known as Save.
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Let Him Cancel Grants to Teachers
The New York Times
By Adam Liptak and Troy Closson
March 26, 2025
The Trump administration on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to let it cancel $65 million in teacher-training grants that it contends would promote diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The court indicated that it would act quickly on the government’s emergency application, ordering the challengers to respond by Friday. The filing was the administration’s second emergency application this week objecting to a lower-court ruling against it, and the fifth since President Trump took office.
Interview: Sheria Smith, leader in the fight to save the Education Department
People’s World
By Gene Lantz
March 26, 2025
Sheria Smith is President of AFGE Local 252, which represents workers at the U.S. Department of Education. As the Trump-Musk administration moved to completely dismantle her agency, Smith suddenly became the focal point of the labor movement’s fightback. People’s World talked with her in Dallas on March 23.
Teachers' unions sue Trump administration over Columbia University funding threats
CBS News
By Doug Williams
March 26, 2025
The American Association of University Professors and American Federation of Teachers have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of holding funding hostage at Columbia University. Columbia's administration is not involved in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs believe the damage was done, and a legal case was made, as soon as the Trump administration demanded changes by dangling federal funding. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, acknowledged Columbia's need for reform but took issue with the threat attached to it. "There were a whole bunch of Jewish students that were afraid," Weingarten said. "We fight discrimination and we fight for research. But it shouldn't be an administration that tries to leverage one for the other. That's McCarthyism, that's not patriotism."
US judge questions his power to reinstate federal workers nationwide
Reuters
By Blake Brittain and Daniel Wiessner
March 26, 2025
A federal judge who ordered the Trump administration to reinstate nearly 25,000 fired government employees said on Wednesday that he could narrow his ruling to workers based in Washington, D.C., and the 19 mostly Democratic-led states that sued over the mass firings. U.S. District Judge James Bredar during a hearing in Baltimore, Maryland, said he was concerned that he lacked the power to issue an order affecting states that are not involved in the lawsuit.
Judge Extends Pause on Firings of Probationary Workers for 5 Days
The New York Times
By Eileen Sullivan
March 26, 2025
A federal judge in Maryland on Wednesday extended a temporary pause in the Trump administration’s efforts to fire probationary workers at more than a dozen federal agencies by five days. The judge, James K. Bredar of the Federal District Court in Maryland, said he needed more time to determine whether a longer-term halt to the government’s firing of probationary employees should apply to the entire country or be restricted to certain states while the case proceeds.
Trump administration moves to cut programs that fight child labor abroad
The Washington Post
By Lauren Kaori Gurley
March 27, 2025
Shawna Bader-Blau, executive director of the Solidarity Center, an international labor rights organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO, which has received 1o of these grants, said in a statement that cutting these programs would “abandon workers and roll back decades of progress combating forced and child labor.”
Trump Is Trying to Gain More Power Over Elections. Is His Effort Legal?
The New York Times
By Nick Corasaniti
March 26, 2025
President Trump pushed on Tuesday to hand the executive branch unprecedented influence over how federal elections are run, signing a far-reaching and legally dubious order to change U.S. voting rules. The executive order, which seeks to require proof of citizenship to register to vote as well as the return of all mail ballots by Election Day, is an attempt to upend centuries of settled election law and federal-state relations. The Constitution gives the president no explicit authority to regulate elections. Instead, it gives states the power to set the “times, places and manner” of elections, leaving them to decide the rules, oversee voting and try to prevent fraud. Congress can also pass election laws or override state legislation, as it did with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Social Security backs off plan to cut phone services after backlash
The Washington Post
By Lisa Rein and Hannah Natanson
March 26, 2025
The Social Security Administration on Wednesday abruptly backed off planned cuts to phone services amid an uproar from advocates for retirees and disabled Americans. The changes, scheduled to take effect on Monday, would have directed anyone filing for retirement or disability benefits, or for direct deposit changes, to first verify their identity online or in person instead of over the phone — a policy that advocates said would shut out many disabled and elderly customers. The agency also acknowledged that the hastily announced proposal had triggered a wave of scammers who are contacting retirees and pretending to be part of the proposed identification efforts.
Social Security Administration backtracks on some ID requirements after backlash
AP
By Fatima Hussein
March 26, 2025
The Social Security Administration is partially backtracking on a plan that would require all new and existing beneficiaries to travel to a Social Security field office to verify their identity. The Social Security Administration on Wednesday said that people applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income who are not able to use agency’s online portal, can complete their claim entirely over the phone instead of in person. Other SSA applicants will still be required to verify their identities at a field office.
CBS News
By DeJanay Booth-Singleton
March 26, 2025
United Auto Workers union President Shawn Fain, who has been critical of President Trump in the past, says the 25% tariffs on foreign-made cars is a step to "end the free trade disaster."
AG Campbell says she’s ‘monitoring’ situation after Tufts grad student arrested by ICE
Boston.com
By Dialynn Dwyer
March 26, 2025
SEIU Massachusetts State Council President Dave Foley denounced the detention of Ozturk, a member of SEIU Local 509, in a statement, saying her arrest is part of a “despicable effort to stifle speech by immigrants who express views that Donald Trump and his surrogates simply don’t like.”
ORGANIZING
Activision user research workers are unionizing 'to create an industry that works for them'
Game Developer
By Chris Kerr
March 26, 2025
A supermajority of user research workers at Activision have voted to unionize under the Communications Workers of America (CWA) banner. The CWA confirmed the news in a press release and explained those workers will become members of CWA Local 9400. Microsoft has recognized the union, which has named itself Activision User Research Union-CWA. Activision User Research Union-CWA is hoping to secure higher wages, job security and protections amid rampant layoffs, and transparency around promotions and career advancement.
LA Museum Workers Announce Unionization Efforts
My News LA
By Contributing Editor
March 25, 2025
Workers at Los Angeles County’s Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits Tuesday announced efforts to unionize, citing what they call a need for better wages, safer working conditions and increased diversity. The Natural History Museum & Tar Pits Workers Union would represent almost 300 workers and include performers, engineers, educators, guest relations associates and more, according to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 36.
Los Angeles museum workers pushing to unionize
NBC Los Angeles
By City News Service
March 26, 2025
Workers at Los Angeles County's Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits Tuesday announced efforts to unionize, citing what they call a need for better wages, safer working conditions and increased diversity. The Natural History Museum & Tar Pits Workers Union would represent almost 300 workers and include performers, engineers, educators, guest relations associates and more, according to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 36.
Piedmont Athens regional workers unionize
The Red & Black
By Sebastian Baggett
March 26, 2025
Piedmont Athens Regional has allegedly been breaking unfair labor practice laws in retaliation against their own maintenance workers, according to union organizers. The workers voted to join the International Union of Operating Engineers in August 2024. Employers are required by law to maintain working conditions once an election to join a union is filed all the way until an agreement is reached, with some exceptions. Piedmont has failed to maintain this status quo by implementing many unfair labor practices according to Jacob Owens, an organizer with the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Ohio University faculty vote to unionize ahead of SB1
The Athens Messenger
By Taylor Orcutt
March 26, 2025
United Academics of Ohio University (UAOU) announced that faculty approved unionization with a majority 453-189 vote counted at the State Employment Relations Board (SERB) Monday morning. The union efforts began soon after former President Duane Nellis announced the layoffs of 53 instructional faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic in a May 2020 letter, according to previous reporting from the Athens News.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
CSX announces tentative agreement with boilermakers union
Trains.com
By Trains Staff
March 26, 2025
CSX on Tuesday evening (March 25) announced it had reached a tentative five-year labor agreement with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, its second such deal of the day. The union — formally the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers — represents 59 CSX employees.
Community College of Philadelphia reaches new contracts with faculty and staff, avoiding strike
Philly Voice
By Michaela Althouse
March 26, 2025
The Community College of Philadelphia and the unions representing its faculty and staff reached a tentative deal on a new contract overnight, averting the strike that was set to begin Wednesday morning. The 1,200 CCP employees represented by the American Federation of Teachers Local 2026 said they would walk of the job at 7 a.m. Wednesday if their demands weren't met. Specific details of deal have not been released.
Judge ends VTA strike after agency seeks help from court to resume service
CBS News
By Dave Pehling
March 26, 2025
A judge ordered VTA workers' end their three-week strike on Wednesday after the VTA brought the issue to court, claiming workers had broken their "no strike" clause. "The court will order them to preliminary injunction requested by plaintiff will and does here by issue defendant ATU … are restrained ... directly or indirectly ... in all the following acts sanctioning, assisting or engaging in any strike," Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Daniel T. Nishigaya said.
WOAW to begin strike on Thursday
The Wellesley News
By Valida Pau, Ruby Barenberg, and Christina Ding
March 25, 2025
Wellesley Organized Academic Workers (WOAW-UAW), the non-tenure track faculty union, will begin a strike this Thursday, the College announced today in an email sent to all students, faculty, and staff. The Wellesley News reported yesterday that WOAW would likely begin a strike after both parties failed to agree on key issues, including compensation and workload in the Tuesday bargaining session.
JOINING TOGETHER
Bill aims to loosen zoning for corporate headquarters, keep Axon in Scottsdale
AZ Central
By Corina Vanek
March 26, 2025
It received intense opposition to its proposal from neighbors and from Worker Power Institute, the political arm of the Unite Here Local 11 labor union. The company received approval from the Scottsdale City Council in late 2024 to change the zoning on its roughly 73-acre site to allow the headquarters building, along with apartments, condominiums, a hotel and restaurants.
Walz orders state workers back to office 50% of time; unions slam 'unilateral' decision
Bring me the News
By Tommy Wiita
March 26, 2025
The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5 announced they have denounced Walz's "unilateral decision to revoke teleworking agreements in place for state workers across Minnesota."
SWC-UAW holds ‘informational picket’ demanding protection for international students
Columbia Spectator
By Daksha Pillai
March 26, 2025
Over 50 demonstrators gathered at the Sundial and outside Columbia’s 116th Street and Broadway gates on Monday as part of an “informational picket” organized by Student Workers of Columbia-United Auto Workers. SWC-UAW announced the demonstration in protest of “Columbia’s newest repressive policies” in a Sunday Instagram post.
IN THE STATES
Labor unions highlight uneven wage, job growth in SC
South Carolina Daily Gazette
By Jessica Holdman
March 26, 2025
That’s according to the analysis of federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, known as the AFL-CIO, in South Carolina. “Employment in this state didn’t drop, but the wages didn’t match that,” said Kim Smith, state vice president of the conglomeration of 63 unions representing workers that include airline pilots, postal employees and paper and steel mill workers. AFL-CIO chapters across the country have previously published similar reports in a push to increase membership. Tuesday’s report marks a first for South Carolina, the third least unionized state in the nation behind South Dakota and North Carolina. The state had 61,000 union members in 2024, according to the latest federal labor data.
Clark Atlanta University introduces new training initiative dedicated to labor advocacy
WABE
By Marlon Hyde
March 26, 2025
Clark Atlanta University launched a new program on Tuesday to train young Black and Brown leaders in the labor movement. Organizers say that they aim to educate and empower students, while labor leaders hope to diversify the field. The launch coincided with the campus’ Black Women in Public Policy in the South Symposium, where a panel of women labor leaders discussed the importance of collective power, solidarity and community building during this organizing movement, particularly in the South. One of them was Yvonne Brooks, president of the Georgia State AFL-CIO. “It’s so empowering because sometimes you feel like you’re operating in a silo by yourself,” said Brooks. “You’re in this fight by yourself, but to see people who are going throughthe same struggles and have the same lived experiences.”
Colorado EPA workers rally to protect jobs
Colorado Newsline
By Lindsey Toomer
March 26, 2025
The union that represents just under 500 Environmental Protection Agency employees in Colorado rallied Wednesday outside of the agency’s downtown Denver headquarters against President Donald Trump’s threats to cut workers. Members of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607 and other supporters marched around the EPA Region 8 headquarters near Union Station to urge the Trump administration to “let us work” as it continues to undermine federal workers.
LABOR LEADERSHIP
Joel Cohen Elected National Executive Director of Art Directors Guild
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
March 26, 2025
The Art Directors Guild has elected Joel Cohen as its latest staff leader, replacing outgoing national executive director Chuck Parker. Cohen, who served under Parker for more than two years as associate national executive director, was voted in during the union’s latest officer elections, the results of which were announced Wednesday. During his campaign, Cohen promised to fight for the Studio City-based labor group to have national jurisdiction over its covered crafts, to further protect members against infringements by AI tools, to encourage more organizing and to be transparent with members about union activities.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
IAMAW Local Lodge 1045 lends helping hands
Kossuth County Advance
By Staff
March 26, 2025
On Saturday, March 22, 12 volunteers from the IAMAW Local Lodge 1045 rolled up their sleeves and got to work painting the bathrooms at the Active Senior Center. The lodge, made up mostly of volunteers from Snap-on employees, are diligent about helping with projects in their communities when needs arise.